Improvement in fences



' 0. A. CLARK.

Pence No. 205,245. Patented lunegs 1878..

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ORMOND A. CLARK, OF WHITESBOROUGH, YORK.

IMPROVEMENT I'N FENCES Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 205,245, dated June 25, 1878 application filed November 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, ORMOND A. CLARK, of Whitesborough, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare that thefollowin g is afull, clear,

and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan and top view, showing my improved fence in position. Fig.2 is a plan view of the chair or bench used in combination with and as a support for the fencepanels. Fig. 3 represents diiferent forms of wedges used in combination with my invention, and Fig. 4 shows, in perspective, a section of a complete fence with its supports.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to certain improvements in fence-panels, and is applicable alike to permanent and portable fences, substan- 'tially as 1 shall now proceed more fully to describe, with reference to the drawings hereto annexed, in which- A is the fence-panel, which consists of parallel' horizontal boards or slats a a, connected and secured together by vertical cross-pieces b b, which project below the lowest slat a in the panel, and are provided with metallic points 0 c, which enter the ground when the panels are placed in position, thus adding much to the strength and stability of the fence.

In constructing a permanent fence with my improved panel, I prefer to arrange the posts D in the usual manner in the ground, and provide them with hooks d 01, upon which the panels are hung, as shown, in such a manner that the metallic points 0 0 shall enter the ground.

In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the ends of the rails a of one panel abut against the first crosspiece b of the next, which is thus prevented from being displaced sidewise. To prevent the panels from being lifted or otherwise displaced by cattle or from other causes, I insert at each post a wedge, G, between the under side of the hook d and the rail coming under it. An absolutely secure fence is thus provided.

To prevent the wedges from being displaced accidentally, I prefer to make them double, or provide them with a notch, as shown at G G Fig. 3, when it will be quite impossible for them to be lost, even if partially displaced.

When it is desired to build a fence for which permanency is not a desirable or necessary qualification, I prefer to support the panels uponthe benches or chairs H, (shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,) by which means a convenient and inexpensive movable or portable fence may be built. These chairs consist simply of a bottom piece, f, to the ends of which uprights g g are pivoted. Each of these uprights is provided near its upper end with two notches, z z", the lower ones of which, 'i,are on the inside, facing each other, while the upper ones, i, are on the outside. These notches should be so arranged that when theuprights are crossed, as shown, they shall form recesses for the reception of the upper and second rails of two panels, one of which is arranged on each side.

By using these benches or supports a fence may be built very rapidly, and yet in a very substantial manner, while it has the advantage of being easily taken down and removed from one place to another. To prevent the panels in this portable fence from being accidentally displaced, the wedges G',]l1BIBlIld6- scribed, may be used.

My improved fence is cheap in construction, neat, and substantial. The panels may be arranged for a vine-trellis, for which purpose it is especially adaptable. Any one of the panels may be readily displaced to open a driveway for wagons, &c. and, finally, it has the advantage of being easily folded and packed for transportation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-- 1. As an improvement in the cross-pieces In testimony that I claim the foregoing as or panel-supports b, the pointed metal plate my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in 0, attached to the lower end thereof, substanpresence of two witnesses. tially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the fence-panels, ORMOND A. CLARK. constructed substantially as described, and the posts D, having hooks d, of the wedges G, Witnesses: substantially as and for the purpose herein MORRIS WILOOX, set forth. ZEBULON PARKS. 

